Moldovan low temperatures to affect of sweet-cherries, cherries, plums harvest, by specialists

Chisinau, 20 April /MOLDPRES/ – Snow and low outdoor temperatures will most affect the harvest of sweet-cherries, cherries and plums. At the same time, less cereal crops will be affected, said to the agency the head of the laboratory at the Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection of the ASM, Leonid Volosciuc.

According to the cited source, the trees are in the development period and the low temperatures will bring significant losses. "Most will suffer from stinking crops, I refer to sweet-cherry, cherry and plum, less will affect apple and grain, as they are more resistant. At the same time, we are going to see the impact of the outside time on the apple, the pear and the quince," said Volosciuc.

The specialist added that low temperatures, heavy snowfall and strong winds caused the breakage of branches, shoots and stopped the development of the generative organs of the crops. "In the case of breakage of trees and plants, then pathogens will be activated, which will generate other problems in the development of crops. Similarly, as a result of temperature stabilization, farmers are more advised to apply biological preparations to stop pathogens and generate plant growth," said the quoted source.  

Asked by the agency, Deputy Director of the Institute of Horticulture and Food Technologies, Ilie Donica, mentioned that at this time the resistance of the trees was very small, which could cause major damages. "We will monitor the condition of the crops at low temperatures during the night. Our collaborators work on the ground to analyze the impact of outside time and possible losses. We will have the first forecasts in the next few days," noted Donica.

Sources from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry specified for the agency that, "a special committee was set up in connection with hazard weather outside, which will assess the situation in the agricultural sector over the next 10 days."

The State Hydrometeorological Service announced for the next days yellow code of frost throughout Moldova. Thus, between 18-24 April frosts are expected at the surface of the soil with the intensity of -1...- 4°C, isolated in air 0...-3°C. Today, tomorrow, heavy rains and rains will fall. The north-east wind will show intensities of up to 17-22 m/s. Tomorrow, there will be frosts in the air with the intensity of -1...- 4°C.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor M. Jantovan)